Device for producing ice cubes



April 16, 1929. R. T. BRlzzoLARA DEVICE FOR PRODUQING` ICE cUBps Filed May 5, 1928 3 sheets-sheet 1 April 16, 1929. R. T. BRlzzoLARA l/'QFW l l DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ICE CUBES Filed May 5, 1928 s sheets-Sheet 2 April 16, 1929.

R. T. BRlzzoLARA,

Filed May 5, 1928 s sheets-sheet 5 Patented iApr. 16, 1929. i

" UNITED ,s'rivri-:s-

'.ROIBIEIIBI.` T. BRIZZOLABA, OF NEW DORP, NEW YORK. y

DEVICE `Fon PRoDUcING 10E cimas.-

applicati@ med may 5,

The present invention relates to a device for producing ice cbes on a block of ice while in the ice chamber of an ice-box, and hasA for its primary' object to provide a simply constructed device'which may be ofany convenientand adaptable size for handling by .the house-holder and so as to'form, by the natural melting ofthe ice, a number of small sections or cubes of uniform size and shape for table use. 'l More particularly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide certain improvements in that ty e of ice cube producing .dcvices which emliody grids or intersecting i5 plates adapted to rest at their 'edges on the block of ice, the improvements relating to uniformity inthe melting of the sides of the ice cubes and in the equal distribution of the heat absorbed by the device and Conducted tothe different sides of the cube and to the cutting or bearing edges of the grid.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- i -vide a device which insures drainage of melt- -ed water from about the walls antledges of the .grd,vand a device which may depend solely upon pressure, such as bythe weight of the device itself, and which may combine with the pressure the agency of heat for pro-- moting melting of the ice to form the cubes.

The invention further contemplates `the provision of draft regulating and heat distributing members as a part of the grid and which are adapted to lie in the path of the circulation of the warm air at the top of the s.; ice chamber and to absorb from the air current the heat units and transmit them to the portions of the grid which come into ContactV with the block of ice, the heat transmitting elements promoting rather than retarding the 40 circulation of the air in the ice chamber, so las to effecta uniform distribution of the heat. lVith thel above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in `the lmproved ice cube forming device and in the form, con- 4.3 vstruction and relative arrangelnent of its several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully v described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

Inthe drawing, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment. of the d evice, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views;

forminor 12 of tlie desired size. The lower edges 13 Figure 1 is a sectional view throughthe upper portion of an ordinary'ice-box such 1928. Serial No. 275,454.

as is used in a house-hold, and showing a devlce for forming ice'eubs constructedac'cording to the present invention in position on a 'block of ice in the icek chamber. Y

Flgure 2 1s an enlarged,l longitudinal, sectional view taken through the ice cube forming device. v

Figure -3 is a bottom plan view of the device.- g 'E Figure 4"is 'a transverse', sectionaltview taken through the device. Figure 51s a perspective view looking at the under side of the device, showing the ice cubeV -formmg compartments and the drainage projections at the sides and ends of the devlce, and y y Figure 6 -is a -top plan view of the device.

The ice cube l i form of a grid composed' of .a lplurality of spaced, longitudinal plateslO interseeteil by transverse spaced-apart plates 1-1. The plates 1Q and 11 may be of any suitable length to-prov1de the desired number of ice cube chambers 12 and with the chambers of the plates 10 and l1 Ymay be vbeveled or sharpened, as shown to advantage in F igures' i and 4, so as to facilitate the melting of the ice by impact of the edges thereagainst.

" The device is adapted -to rest on top of a block of ice 14, shown in Figure 1, and with the lower edges 13 of the intersecting plates 10 and 11 bearlngjupon the ice] for the purpose ofcolleeti'ng and concentrating heat absorbed by the device along lines 4of severance between the sections ofthe ice defined between the walls 10 and 11. Thewallsl() and 11 are extended beyond the grid structure to provide wings 15 and 16,` projecting from the sides and ends of the grid, respectively. These wings 15 and-,16 mayv project from .all

' ofthe sides of tbe grid, as shown in the drawings, or they may project' from lbut threesides,

or even a less number of sides, although for.

forming device is m the4 the purpose of accommodating the device vto various inequalities in the u per surface of the ice block 14, it is preferab e to provide the wings 15 and-.16 atat least three sides.'v The wings,bemg zzo-'extensive with the plates 10 and 1v1, are eontinuations thereof a d are adapted to-work into thesurfaceof the ice.

block 14` and form groovesv or channelsy through which water may escape which is produced b. v the meltingof the ice beneath and about te plates 10 and-11. y i

For the purpose of insuring a uniform' lll ' lo v provides. a stop for limiting `the downward shapeiand size-tothe cube formed within the chamber 12, each chamber is provided with a closed top 17 `for entirely closing the -top' of the chamber.I The top 17 .may be a portion of a large plate'which extends over all of the chambers or compartments 12 so as to reduce the numberof joints required in the construction of the grid, and so as to more uniformly diffuse theheatj absorbed by the grid. The closedtop-l? performs a dual function. It

f settling of the grid in the block of ice and determines the depth of the sections of ice which are segregated by the melting a'etion. The

` top 17 also uniformly distributes the heat over the upper surface of the" ice cube and thus 'maintains the upper surface fiat and in uniformitywith the general configuration of the cube, so that the product produced is of a u niform shape and size and has well defined flatn 'fa'ces'and joining ledges. when the grid is removed.l 1 v To :further insure the equal distribution of i the .absorbed heat throughout the grid, the ylatteris provided with a number of au; channels orV lpzrssages 18 which` are delined by spaced fins 19 which risefrom the gridand which are preferably integral with the longitudinal strips 10. Thesefins 19 are preferably zzo-extensive withthe strips so as to extend from end to end of the grid.- lThe grid is adapted to be placed in the ice chamber of the ice-box, as shown in Figure 1, with the fins 19 extending lengthwise of the direction or path of travel of the air current in the upper end of the ice chamber sothatthe fins will offer practically no resistanceJ to travel of the air as it passes across the top of vthe block of ice 14 and across the top of the grid. The fins 19, however, are adapted to absorb the .heat from `the air as it flows from the top of the food compartment and to transmit its heat downwardly through the strips 10 and 11 and to the top'wall 17. Asthere istpractically no resistance to the flow of the air through the channels-18, the tins 19 are effective through-v out their entire length in absorbing the heat from the air so that the remote end of the grid is maintained at substantially the same temence to the direction of the flow of air.

perature as is the proximate end with referthis manner themelting of the ice beneath the grid yis'uniform throu hout the length and breadth of the grid. t Will be noted that the wings 15 and 16 may be left open at their upper ends so that the airis free to iiowl downwardly betweeny the fins and the latter may absorb heat from the air as it passes downwardlyv against 'the outer sides of the lateral fins 19. Thisalso serves touniformly distribute the heat'to the strips 10 and 11.

The wings 15and 16 need not of necessity be of thesame length or breadth as the walls of the compartments 12, it being necessary qnly that the wings 15 aid 16 `lie in substan- 'and 11.

tially the same planes as the lower'edges of the strips 10 and 11, so as to form the drainage grooves in the upper surface of the block o ice.

It is apparent` that the Weight of the grid with its wings 15 and 16 andthe tins 19 is suilicient to cause the melting of the ice along the lines of the lower edges of the strips 10 The grid may be additionally weighted, however, if desired, and suitable heatingmeans may be used, such as electricall oi" otherwise, for promoting the melting action. '.lhe grid and its parts are made of suitable metal to not only lend weight to the structure but to also transmit heat absorbed from the `air current to the cutting edges of the grid'. and to the walls defining the chambers or compartments 12.- The topsl or walls 17 provide a barrier or a stop for limiting the downward moyement of the grid' during the melting action, although shouldy the 'grid be left in place even' after the full-sized cubes I are formed in the compartments 12, the uniform distribution of heat throughout the top 17 is such that while the action is retarded still the further melting of the ice does not distort 4the form or shape ofthe cubes in the compartments 12.

The water produced by grid alongk thev channels formed in the upper surface of the block 14 of ice as the Wings 15 and 16 project sufliciently beyond'the sides of the ice block to open the channels or grooves4 therethrough, the Water draining down the sides of the block of ice. `This draining of the water prevents such accumulations around the edges of the strips 10 and 11 aswould.

seriously affect the shape or form ofthe ice cubes by the transmission of the heat through the accumulated water to the sides ofthe ice cubes'at points above the biting or cutting edges 13. I

'the 'melting of the ice 1s permitted to drain olf from beneath the Animportant featu of the structure is the the top of a block of ice where there isV nomeans of directing or rovidingan air current,.it will ,be found t atthe absorption oi i the heat from the surrounding air will be uniform throughout the length and breadth of the grid, the fins 19 serving not only in v this instance but to also'uniformly diiuse` the heat throughout the grid in the presence of an air current when the latter flows in the channels 18. v

Accordingly, it is to be understood that in the further development of my invention, I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate modifications in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the ,various elements as may be fairly incorporated in the spirit'and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: y

1. An ice cube forming grid comprising two series of heat absorbing metal plates, the plates of one series being transverse to the plates of the other series and rigidly connected therewith to thereby form a plurality of chambers, said grid adapted to be arranged upon an ice block to melt the same and said elements of the grid sinking into the block to thereby form a plurality of ice sections in the chambers of the grid adapted to be subsequently separated from the body of the ice block, a plurality of spaced fins projecting upwardly from said metal plates and being spaced apart and extending in one direct-ion across the top of the grid for absorbing heat rom air passing over and about the grid, and a top plate carried across the upper edges of said plates to formtops for said chambers between the plates and adapted to completely close said tops to limit the penetration of the plates in the block of ice and to uniformly distribute heat to the upper surfaces of said ice sections.

2. An ice cube forming grid comprising spaced longitudinal and transverse metal strips disposed in intersecting relation to provide chambers therebetween, a top plate carried by said strips`for closing the tops of said chambers, wings projecting beyond the ends of said strips and forming continuations of the lower edges of said strips, and spaced fins extending upwardly from said strips and said top plate providing air channels between the fins adapted to receive currents of air therethrough.

3. An ice cube forming grid comprising spaced longitudinal and transverse str1 s disposed in intersecting relation to provide ice cube compartments, a top platel carried by said strips for closing the tops of the compartments, fins projecting upwardly from the ongitudinalv strips and spaced apart above the top plate 4to provide air receiving channels, and wings projecting from the sides and ends lof the grid and forming elongations of the lower edges ofthe strips.

4. A device ofthe character described comprising a grid consisting of two series of heat absorbing metal plates, the plates of one being transverse to the plates of the other series and rigidly connected therewith to thereby form a plurality of chambers, said grid adapted to be arranged upon an ice block to Vmelt the same, and said elements of the grid sinking into the block to thereby form a plurality of ice sections in `the chambers of the grid adapted to be subsequently separated from the body of the ice block, a top plate carried by said meta-l plates and extending across the tops of 'said chambers to completely tops of saidychambers, thesaid first plates Y extending in one direction of the grid projecting upwardly beyond the top plate to provide heat absorbing fins and air channels between the fins.

6. A device of the character described comprising a grid consisting of two series of heat absorbing metal plates, the plates of one bef ing transverse to the plates offthepther series to form a plurality of chambers therebetween and with the extremities of the plates projecting beyond the grid to provide drain groove forming wings, a top plate secured across said first plates for closing in the tops of said chambers, and spaced fins projecting upwardly from said first plates beyond the top plate and invone direction only across the trip of the grid to provide between the -fins air channels adapted to aline with the path ofv travel of air currents over the top of the grid. In testimony that'I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

I sonner rnmzzoLARA. 

